Shloka 44
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
पितामहश् च भगवान् देवैर् आङ्गिरसैः सह स्थावराणि च भूतानि जङ्गमानि च सर्वशः समागम्य तदा वैन्यम् अभ्यषिञ्चन् नराधिपम्
pitāmahaś ca bhagavān devair āṅgirasaiḥ saha sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni jaṅgamāni ca sarvaśaḥ samāgamya tadā vainyam abhyaṣiñcan narādhipam
Then the Blessed Grandsire (Brahmā), together with the gods and the Āṅgirasa sages, convened the whole of existence—both the immobile beings and the moving creatures from every quarter—and in that universal assembly they consecrated Vainya (Pṛthu) as sovereign ruler of men.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas
Concept: Authority is legitimate when conferred within dharma and oriented to the protection of all beings, integrating divine, sage, and societal sanction.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: In leadership, seek accountability (wise counsel), act for common good, and ground power in ethical restraint rather than coercion.
Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic society (devas, sages, beings) forms an ordered whole under the Supreme; dharma is the Lord’s governance expressed through ordained roles.
Dharma Exemplar: Rājadharma (king as protector under divine ordinance)
Key Kings: Brahmā, Pṛthu (Vainya)
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
FAQs
This verse presents kingship as a cosmic institution: Brahmā, the gods, and sages publicly authorize Vainya, making his rule a restoration of universal order rather than mere personal power.
By depicting an abhiṣeka performed in the presence of devas, sages, and all beings, Parāśara frames royal authority as dharma-sanctioned and accountable to the welfare of the entire world.
Even when not named in the verse, the Purāṇic view is that righteous kingship functions under Vishnu’s supreme order (dharma); the universal assembly signals that governance is meant to harmonize creation with that higher reality.